Emotions, not facts, ruled on rezoning

Published: Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 07:42 PM.

To the editor:

I would like to tell you that for the first time in my adult life, I am heartbroken at the realization that emotions not facts rule our political systems.

The Town of Holly Ridge Council was to have a hearing on rezoning a piece of property I own — a rezoning that would make my property more restrictive and therefore would decrease the value of my land; but it was something I was willing to do based on the recommendation of the Holly Ridge zoning officer.

Accompanied by my attorney, I brought several maps and photographs depicting the zoning of adjacent and nearby properties — I did not have time to present any of them.

The zoning request should have been a simple determination as to whether or not the zoning change would benefit the surrounding areas. Since R-20 would be more restrictive — it would require any residential home to have a 20,000 square foot lot (5,000 square feet larger than the current R-15A) — thereby ensuring more property per home and removing the ability to have multiple single-wide trailers. These are a very common fixture in Holly Ridge and not known to increase a neighboring properties value.

I did not find it selfish to expect to be given at least five minutes before any public comments to present the proposal, maps and possible uses.

I was not offered such a simple thing. Instead I had to sign my name to a list to be granted three minutes (timed by a large clock placed in front of you) to present my rezoning request.

I would like to tell you that for the first time in my adult life, I am heartbroken at the realization that emotions not facts rule our political systems.

The Town of Holly Ridge Council was to have a hearing on rezoning a piece of property I own — a rezoning that would make my property more restrictive and therefore would decrease the value of my land; but it was something I was willing to do based on the recommendation of the Holly Ridge zoning officer.

Accompanied by my attorney, I brought several maps and photographs depicting the zoning of adjacent and nearby properties — I did not have time to present any of them.

The zoning request should have been a simple determination as to whether or not the zoning change would benefit the surrounding areas. Since R-20 would be more restrictive — it would require any residential home to have a 20,000 square foot lot (5,000 square feet larger than the current R-15A) — thereby ensuring more property per home and removing the ability to have multiple single-wide trailers. These are a very common fixture in Holly Ridge and not known to increase a neighboring properties value.

I did not find it selfish to expect to be given at least five minutes before any public comments to present the proposal, maps and possible uses.

I was not offered such a simple thing. Instead I had to sign my name to a list to be granted three minutes (timed by a large clock placed in front of you) to present my rezoning request.

Unfortunately for me, I signed up behind numerous other folks whom I did not know and most of whom I had never met before. This was where the bloodbath began. The town clerk read two emails from people I did not know — I have never seen this done at any other town meeting before. The emails were filled with misinformation. I was not given a chance to refute these statements.

With only three minutes allowed to me, I had to get out as much information as possible.

Several of the people who spoke brought up things like “children getting shot at the bus stop.” What? Our range hours begin at 10:30 a.m.; and again, this meeting was for re-zoning only.

They said they wanted their children safe. Me, too. That’s why we teach family gun safety. If you are going to own a gun you need to know how to use it properly and how to store it properly. That is my goal — to make sure every gun owner is a safe and properly trained gun owner.

One man stated that over a year ago, his wife (he wasn’t home) was bringing in outdoor furniture during a storm and said a bullet ricocheted off something in their yard. Holly Ridge police wouldn’t even respond to the call.

I did mention that our range wasn’t even open at that time and that they live over a mile away and diagonally from our property.

They claimed that they were folks who moved to Holly Ridge for peace and quiet. Again I had to laugh — three ranges within a mile that have been viable for years and a military live fire range? Didn’t anybody look at the Holly Ridge welcome sign; two bombers should tell them something. Holly Ridge has been and, most likely, always will be a military town and the military ain’t quiet! Bless them all.

When I did get a chance to speak I was so upset that I did my best to face those in the audience and stared them eye-to-eye to correct the mistruths. They were all proud of themselves and for no real reason. They were basing their reaction on emotions, not information. I stated to the Town Council that this meeting was not supposed to be about a special use permit for a gun range (that would be at a later date) and that this meeting was based purely on the re-zoning itself. I believe that this was not done.

The town council voted on the rezoning — not based on the facts — but on the emotions of people speaking about misinformation. They voted to deny my zoning request.

Most of the people speaking didn’t even know that my property was not even located in Holly Ridge but in Onslow County. One man thought my property was near the Surf City CVS.

But as happens in most cases, emotions fed on emotions and eventually everyone was convinced that I was an evil doer who poisons the environment and disturbs protected birds. Really?

I am more disappointed than anything. My son always reminds me that there are facts and there are opinions — make sure you know which is which.